RV and mobile-home water heaters split into two related-but-distinct markets: RV/travel-trailer water heaters (typically 6–10 gallon propane or propane+electric dual-fuel units mounted in a side cabinet) and manufactured-home / mobile-home water heaters (HUD-certified residential units sized for tighter clearances and different code requirements).
RV water heater categories
- RV propane storage — the legacy standard. 6–10 gallon tank, propane burner, side-mounted in the trailer. Suburban SW6, Atwood, Dometic dominate this segment.
- RV propane + electric dual-fuel — same form factor with an added 120V electric element. Runs on shore power when plugged in (cheaper), propane when boondocking.
- RV tankless propane — newer technology, eliminates the storage tank. Endless hot water but draws more propane during use. Examples: Truma AquaGo, Girard.
- Compact electric mini-tank for RV — for fifth-wheel and park-model trailers with shore-power-only setup. 6G mini-tanks work well here.
Manufactured-home water heaters
HUD-certified water heaters meet manufactured-home code requirements (often stricter venting + clearance specifications than site-built homes). The major US brands all manufacture mobile-home-certified variants:
- Rheem mobile-home variants — PROG30-30N-RH62 (30G gas) and PROE30-2-RH95 (30G electric) are the mobile-home-specific PROG/PROE Rheem models. Also see the Rheem Performance Power Vent 40G which is the right pick for manufactured-home installs without chimney access.
- AO Smith mobile-home variants — sold through HVAC and RV-supply channels.
- Bradford White mobile-home variants — plumber-channel.
Why RV water heaters are different from residential
- Size: RV units are typically 6–10 gallons vs 30–80 residential. Conserves propane and fits the tight cabinet space.
- Side-mounted not top-mounted: RV units are accessed through an exterior cabinet door, not through a closet door
- Propane primary, electric backup: shore-power dependency varies by campsite, so RVs default to propane and supplement with electric
- Built-in pressure relief is critical: RV plumbing is more vulnerable to freeze damage in winter storage
- Anti-bypass cock: RVs winterize by draining the water heater seasonally — built-in bypass valves make this routine
Manufactured-home water heater install
Manufactured-home installs typically need:
- Sealed-combustion venting (power-vent or direct-vent gas) — most modern manufactured-home setups can't accommodate atmospheric chimney
- Smaller diameter tank (often 18–20" vs 22–24" residential standard) to fit the utility-cabinet clearance
- HUD-certified pressure relief, T&P, and electrical specs
- Specific gas-line and venting code compliance per manufactured-home standards
The Rheem Performance 29G Compact Gas and 30G Short Electric are common manufactured-home picks.
Park-model and tiny-home applications
Park-model trailers and tiny homes occupy a hybrid zone — too large for an RV water heater, too small for full residential. Common picks:
Bottom line on RV / mobile water heaters
True RV water heaters (Suburban, Atwood, Dometic) are sold through the RV-supply channel rather than residential — we don't currently track those models. For manufactured-home and mobile-home water heaters, the residential Rheem mobile-home-spec PROG/PROE variants and the compact 29G / 30G short-form Rheem models are the volume picks. For park-model and tiny-home applications, point-of-use sizing in our point-of-use category applies. For ADU / cottage installs that look like RV but are actually grounded residential, the 20G or 30G electric is the right starting point.